A pickleball paddle assembly a head having a front side, a back side and a perimeter edge. The perimeter edge includes a top edge, a bottom edge, a first lateral edge and a second lateral edge. A central portion of each of the front and back sides is planar. A handle is attached to and extends downwardly from the from the bottom edge of the head. A plurality of inserts is provided and the perimeter edge has a plurality of wells extending therein that are each configured to releasably receive and retain one of the inserts. Each insert of the plurality of inserts defines a weight such that a weight of the head is selectively altered by inserting one or more of the inserts into one or more of the wells.

A tennis ball retriever for retrieving a tennis ball on and about a tennis court and for controllably releasing the ball includes a front-end ball collector having two spaced-apart blades defining a ball collection space. The retriever includes one or more detents for retaining the collected ball in the collection space until a programmed or manually-directed release toward a target location such as a tennis baseline. The retriever includes a processor-controller for controlling and directing the retriever during a retrieval session. The retriever may be remote-controlled such as by voice commands.

A remote-controlled retriever for collecting a ball on a sports playing surface and for controllably releasing the ball includes a front end ball collector having two spaced-apart blades defining a ball collection space. Each blade includes a passive or an active detent for retaining the collected ball in the collection space until a programmed or manually-directed release toward a target location such as a tennis baseline. The retriever includes a processor-controller for controlling and directing the retriever during a retrieval session.

Systems and methods for selectively enhancing the weight and aerodynamics of sporting equipment are provided. A system may include a piece of sporting equipment having openings extending through the sporting equipment. The system may include a plug operable to be secured within one of the openings extending through the sporting equipment. The plug may include a first end portion, a second end portion, and an attachment mechanism. The first end portion may include a first outer flange and a first body. The first outer flange may have a larger diameter than the first body. The second end portion may include a second outer flange and a second body. The second outer flange may have a larger diameter than the second body. The attachment mechanism may be configured to connect the first end portion to the second end portion to secure the plug within the one of the openings.

A paddle scoreboard for platform tennis is provided. The paddle scoreboard is paddle shaped and adapted to engage and hang from the fence of the platform tennis court. The paddle scoreboard includes two paddle plates that sandwich two scoring discs and two set discs that are rotatably connected to and between the paddle plates. Four apertures are provided by the paddle plates so that one of a plurality of indicia for each of the four discs are viewable through each aperture. A peripheral portion of each disc protrudes beyond the perimeter of the paddle plates so that each disc is selectively spinnable for indicating the game and set score through the four apertures.

A sports implement includes a main body portion, a handle portion extending from the main body portion, and a grip member. The main body portion includes a first contact surface, a second contact surface, and a sidewall positioned about a perimeter of each of the first and the second contact surfaces. The handle portion defines a handle central axis extending therethrough. The grip member includes a grip body portion and a grip end portion. The grip body portion is operably coupled with the handle portion. The grip end portion defines a grip central axis extending therethrough. The handle central axis is offset from and parallel to the grip central axis.

A pickleball paddle is disclosed herein. The pickleball paddle includes a body with a face section and a handle section. The face section has a perimeter. A grip is attached to the handle section. Weighting is positioned in the perimeter of the face section.

A sports implement includes a main body portion having a first contact surface, a second contact surface, and a sidewall positioned about a perimeter of each of the first and the second contact surfaces, a handle portion extending from the main body portion, and an attachable grip member. The handle portion has a handle axis and a distal end, wherein the main body portion and the handle portion cooperate to define an implement dimension value. The attachable grip member includes a grip body portion and a grip end portion. The grip body portion is removably coupled with the distal end of the handle portion. When the attachable grip member is coupled with the handle portion, the attachable grip member, the handle portion, and the main body portion cooperate to define a grip dimension value.

A pickleball paddle includes a handle, and a paddle head coupled with the handle. The paddle head includes a first outer faceplate, a second outer faceplate, and a core arranged between the first outer faceplate and the second outer faceplate. The core includes a honeycomb structure having multiple cells, with each of the multiple cells defined by honeycomb cell walls, and each of the honeycomb cell walls having a height. A majority of the multiple cells of the honeycomb structure are filled with a polymer, the polymer does not extend past the height of the honeycomb cell walls, and the polymer does not expand when exposed to heat.

A manufacturing method for a sports paddle, wherein a reinforcing rod is inserted into the sports paddle, so that the reinforcing rod is located across the handle, throat, and head portions of the sports paddle. In some embodiments, a priming rod is used to create a cavity in the core of the sports paddle so that the reinforcing rod can be placed in the cavity. The manufacturing process results in a reinforced sports paddle that can withstand greater mechanical stress throughout the paddle.